Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's Mason Mount feels he can lead the charge to press opposition defences.

Under Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, United have seemed not able to get a concerted approach to their pressing game, with too many individuals trying to close down the opposition with no assistance.

Chosen ahead of Matheus Cunha in the left-sided 'number 10' slot against Sunderland, Mount led the press which unsettled the Black Cats, especially in the first half hour when the game was won.

"I see myself as bringing a lot of energy into the team and setting off the press at times, being a bit of a catalyst going forward," said Mount.

"It's something I focus on, helping the people around me and really bringing energy."

Amorim had only been at United for a month when Mount suffered the hamstring injury at Manchester City that kept him out for more than three months.

It was a big blow to the new coach, who knew the 26-year-old had more experience of his formation than most of his team-mates after working with Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate.

"At the beginning especially, it was something that maybe he could lean on me for," said Mount.

"Knowing the roles and what he wants out of the team resonates with me because I've done it before. It's something I understand."

It will be interesting to see how Mount's role evolves given Cunha was a big-money summer signing and was expected to be a central figure in United's development going forward.

For now, Mount is happy to have started and scored his first goal of the season – and his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford.

"It was massive for me," he said. "Really important. I enjoyed that."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Senne Lammens' introduction was one of a number of positives for United.

They have now won three home games in a row for the first time in over two years. That first clean sheet is important and if results elsewhere go their way they may enter the international break in the top half of the table.

Yet Ruben Amorim, who went into the game under huge pressure amid conflicting reports about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's support for him, needs much more.

The trip to Liverpool on 19 October has the potential – again – to mark United winning two consecutive Premier League games for the first time in well over a year. They have been in this position twice already this season, gone away from home, to Manchester City and Brentford, and lost.

"There is no momentum," said Amorim. "We know what happens when we win one game. The frustration is not to see the same team at home and away."

Amorim needs to get a sequence of positive results to persuade the hierarchy and the fans he can deliver the meaningful impact United were searching for when they employed him nearly a year ago.

After Liverpool comes a sequence of fixtures – Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Everton, Crystal Palace - that will determine his future.

Goalscorer Mason Mount said after the game the players are behind Amorim. The former Sporting coach can feel that too.

"I know they want to do their best and I know they don't want to change the coach all the time," said Amorim.

"But like I said during this week, to be with the manager is: 'I will kill myself to go in every transition'. We need to show with actions."

Read Simon Stone's full analysis of Lammens' debut and United's win here

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

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• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

• Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

• Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After leaving Lammens on the bench for the first three games since his deadline-day move from Royal Antwerp, Amorim finally decided it was time to put the Belgian into the Premier League fray ahead of Altay Bayindir.

The decision went down well with the United supporters, who cheered his name when it was read out over the tannoy for the first time an hour before kick-off and did the same again just before the teams came out.

Lammens proved his value in a 90-second period just before the break.

First, he flung himself to the left to make a low save from Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka, whose long-range effort was possibly creeping in by the post. Then he came confidently to collect Noah Sadiki's high ball.

The 23-year-old did something similar at the end of the game too, keeping out Chemsdine Talbi's low shot with his legs before rising high to claim a ball that was looping into a danger area.

By no means was Lammens perfect.

Bertrand Traore was convinced he was taken out by a combination of Lammens and United skipper Bruno Fernandes after he nicked the ball between them and went down just outside the box.

If he had been, Lammens might have been in trouble. As it was, referee Stuart Atwell booked Traore for diving and VAR Neil Davies agreed.

It still did not take away the fact Lammens had dashed out of his goal and not got the ball, the kind of moment that would have drawn huge criticism had it featured Bayindir or Andre Onana.

But results can mask all manner of mistakes and United got one - and a clean sheet - thanks to Mount, whose left-foot control and right-foot finish were exceptional, and Sesko, who only needed quick reactions and one touch from three yards to score his second goal in as many games.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim speaking to BBC Sport after their victory over Sunderland: "That is the kind of game where when we're not playing well we're defending well. We had our moments, we were focussed and competitive. Not the perfect performance. Senne [Lammens] did really well. We were a competitive and adult team today. We need to win these games with a clean sheet. Good for us.

"We need to understand that we need everyone to be ready to play. It's a long season, we have a lot of problems, anything can happen. The important thing is that the teammates helped Lammens a lot to have a very good performance."

On Benjamin Sesko: "He has time, he's going to stay here for a lot of years. The media puts a lot of pressure on the goals for the striker but for me it's the effort that is the most important thing. Every time we kick the ball he's fighting for it, that's massive for us. To win the second ball and give us time to breathe. I'm really happy with that.

"It's frustrating to not have this kind of performance again. We need to do this kind of performance away as well - it's our responsibility to play like this."

Did you know?

• Manchester United have won four of their last eight Premier League games (D1 L3), as many wins as in their previous 21 (W4 D5 L12).

• Mason Mount's opener for Manchester United against Sunderland rounded off an 18-pass move, the joint-most for a goal in the Premier League this season and their most in a league game since Bruno Fernandes v Burnley in September 2023 (also 18).

Listen to more from Amorim and Benjamin Sesko on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on United's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Ruben Amorim hands deadline day arrival Senne Lammens his debut for Manchester United.

Lammens was an £18.1m signing from Royal Antwerp but has spent three games on the bench.

Mason Mount, Casemiro, Amad and Leny Yoro are all included as Matheus Cunha, Harry Maguire, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte drop to the bench.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Mount, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Maguire, Cunha, Zirkzee, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaven, Leon, Mainoo.

Sunderland make two changes to the side that won at Nottingham Forest last week.

Bertrand Traore and Simon Adringa are both included as Chris Rigg and Chemsdine Talbi drop to the bench.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Masuaku, Alderete, Mukiele, Hume, Sadiki, Xhaka, Le Fee, Traore, Adringa, Isidor. Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Ballard, Geertruida, Talbi, Brobbey, Rigg, Mayenda, O'Nein.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds United v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester United v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

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Sunderland fans should be thanking me, really, because I keep saying they will be beaten and Regis le Bris' side keep on proving me wrong.

So far, I've said the Black Cats will lose five of their six games. The other one was against Burnley in week two, where I went for a draw... and they suffered their only defeat of the season.

I am going to do the dirty on them this week, and I am going to predict they will win - which obviously means they won't - so apologies to all Sunderland supporters, because they must be absolutely furious with me for doing this.

I am not just backing them for the sake of it, clearly. They are extremely well organised and everything about them has been impressive.

Manchester United, on the other hand, are still a mess.

You can blame Ruben Amorim for that as much as you like but when your centre-half is running out and taking a chance on an offside on a long ball, like Harry Maguire did for Brentford's first goal last week, then that is just terrible defending.

That's where I feel for Amorim. Altay Bayindir should also have done better with Brentford's second goal and the goalkeeping situation is perplexing too - they have brought Senne Lammens in, but where is he?

It is just all muddled thinking at United and Amorim is starting to look like a guy who wants to be put out of his misery.

They are just not improving under him, although he might actually get a result here off the back of me saying Sunderland will win.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of his 50th fixture, with in-form Sunderland the opponents. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's match.

Amorim admitted his side need "more personality to control games" following last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Brentford, a result which means United remain without back-to-back league wins during his tenure. But the 40-year-old rejected claims his 3-4-2-1 formation is not working, insisting "when we win it's not the system, when we lose it's the system".

Nonetheless, the error-strewn performance in west London ramps up the pressure to beat newly promoted Sunderland.

It is the type of fixture in which Amorim's United have generally been able to make their class tell. While the Red Devils have won just seven Premier League games this calendar year, that includes all four meetings with newly promoted opposition. However, the Black Cats' strong start to the season means this match is anything but a formality.

If United can win, there will be one positive omen for Amorim. None of the club's previous five managers won their 50th game in charge, with the last to do so Sir Alex Ferguson in 1987.

Lucky omen for Black Cats?

Sunderland head to Manchester buoyed by last weekend's victory at Nottingham Forest and vying for back-to-back top-flight away wins – a feat they last achieved, coincidentally, courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in May 2014.

Seb Larsson scored the winner that day, earning the Wearsiders their only victory away to United since 1968 and effectively ensuring survival for Gus Poyet's team.

Staying up looks an increasingly realistic prospect for the current crop of players. This is the Black Cats' 17th season in the Premier League but the first in which their points tally has been in double figures after six games. They have not made a better start to a top-flight campaign for 70 years.

Regis le Bris' men are only the seventh promoted side to reach 11 points at this stage of a Premier League season – the other six all stayed up.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's game against Sunderland on Saturday will be preceded by a minute's silence to pay tribute to the victims of Thursday's attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

The players will also wear black armbands. The club's women's team will pay the same tributes before Friday's Women's Super League match against Chelsea.

Ruben Amorim was asked about the attack, which is being treated as a terrorist incident by police.

The United boss, who has not lived in the area for long but understands how badly it will be affected by the incident, said: "It is a crazy world we are living in.

"Of course our sympathies go to the victims and we will pay tribute tomorrow."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Old Trafford (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amorim responded to criticism from ex-players this week, including Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, over Manchester United's results and system: "It is normal and you cannot run away from the results. And then you have baggage from last season but, for me, last season doesn't matter. We had six games this season and we lost three. We have to look to the games we lost."

• He continued: "If we lost against Arsenal due to the system - it is your job to make the opinions. Manchester City - was it first thing you think when the game starts? You don't think first about the system in that moment. If we look to the games we didn't win, people have different opinions and that is OK."

• The United boss feels they have had "some moments this season", but they are "not always the same team in small things, more in the way we play" and added: "We put the maximum effort in every thing. It is not the same in different matches [so] we have to find the balance. It will change everything for us."

• On what he would say to fans sticking with the team: "It is not time to say, it is time to show."

• He added: "I can look at the games this season and, for me, they are completely different. There are some things the same; [it is] not about position on the pitch or where we put the ball, it is other things we can't change. I have nothing to say in this moment. My job is to prepare the team and we go again."

• Amorim praised opposition manager Regis le Bris for his team's "clear identity" and expects a "tough match" at Old Trafford: "They are confident. They know we are going to be be under pressure."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of Man Utd v Sunderland at 15:00 on Saturday

Manchester United have added 21-year-old Brentford and Ukraine defensive midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk to their list of transfer targets. (Caught Offside), external

Joshua Zirkzee is still of interest to Juventus and AC Milan, with the forward also a January loan target for Como. (ESPN), external

United have finalised a deal to sign 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco from Bogota club Fortaleza. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Tottenham and Manchester United are ahead of Fulham in the race to sign Middlesbrough's 23-year-old English midfielder Hayden Hackney. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Dan Roan
Sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

A decision on whether to scrap the Premier League's controversial Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and adopt an "alternative system" is "coming up", says chief executive Richard Masters.

The current regulations, introduced in 2015-16 to prevent clubs from overspending, allow losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.

However, they have been criticised by several top-flight teams for limiting their ability to invest.

BBC Sport has been told a decision on any changes is likely to be made at a meeting in November.

In February, clubs chose to continue with PSR for the current season.

However a squad cost ratio (SCR) system of financial control was adopted by the Premier League on a shadowing, non-binding basis.

SCR is similar to Uefa's existing financial rules and allows clubs to spend up to a percentage of their total revenues on squad-related costs.

Nine of the league's 20 clubs already have to comply with Uefa's SCR as a result of qualifying for Europe. Both Chelsea and Aston Villa were fined by Uefa in July for breaching the rules.

Asked about SCR at the Leaders sports conference in London, Masters said: "We are talking to our clubs about an alternative system. That's not to say we don't think the PSR system works."

He added: "It's about closer alignment with European regulation, which is squad cost ratio, which is a revenue test. In Uefa, it's now set at 70%. Our system will be 85% because we always want our clubs to have the ability to invest.

"The Premier League has been built on the back of investment in which international capital flows [are] coming in. We don't want that to be to be stifled off."

Read more here

Beth Tucker
Fan contributor

Beth Tucker discusses the future of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.

She recognises Ruben Amorim is not the only issue at Old Trafford, but is very concern at seeing no progression to the squad during his tenure.

Find more from Beth at The United Stand, external